Recording apparatus

ABSTRACT

A recording apparatus includes a feeding unit that can feed roll-shaped roll medium downstream in the transport direction, a recording apparatus main body having a recording unit that performs recording on the fed roll medium, and a winding device that winds the recorded roll medium in a roll at a predetermined position, in which the winding device can move with respect to the recording apparatus main body.

This application is claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-029878, filed Feb. 15, 2011 which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a recording apparatus equipped with a winding device that winds a recorded medium in a roll.

It is assumed herein that the recording apparatus includes an ink jet printer, a wire dot printer, a laser printer, a line printer, a copy machine, a fax machine, and the like.

2. Related Art

In the related art, a recording apparatus is equipped with a winding unit, as shown in JP-A-2010-111482. Therefore, it is possible to wind recorded roll paper in a roll.

However, the winding unit is fixed to the recording apparatus main body. Therefore, it may be difficult for users to work, depending on the place where the winding unit is disposed. For example, when the winding unit is disposed under a heater that heats the roll paper after recording, it is difficult to operate the winding unit due to the interference of the heater above the winding unit.

SUMMARY

An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a recording apparatus equipped with a winding device which is implemented in consideration of operation of the winding apparatus.

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a recording apparatus including: a feeding unit that feeds roll-shaped roll medium downstream in the transport direction; a recording apparatus main body that has a recording unit that performs recording on the fed roll medium; and a winding device that winds the recorded roll medium in a roll at a predetermined position, in which the winding device moves with respect to the recording apparatus main body.

According to this aspect, a user can take out the winding device from a predetermined position with respect to the recording apparatus main body. Therefore, the user can easily access the winding device. For example, when a heater or the like is disposed at the recording apparatus main body and the winding device is disposed right under the heater or the like, it is possible to take out the winding device forward from the heater or the like. Therefore, the user can operate the winding device without bending under the heater or the like. For example, it is possible to easily take out the wound roll medium from the winding device.

In the recording apparatus, the winding device may be a device independent from the recording apparatus main body, and the recording apparatus may include a retaining unit that retains the winding device at a predetermined position with respect to the recording apparatus main body.

Therefore, in addition to the same operational effect as that of the aspect, since the winding device is an independent device, it is possible to freely move the winding device, if necessary, with respect to the recording apparatus main body.

Further, the winding device is returned to the predetermined position after the winding device is moved. Further, it is possible to precisely position the winding device to the predetermined position, using the retaining unit. As a result, the winding device can precisely wind the recorded roll medium.

In the recording apparatus, the winding device may be used for an apparatus that performs a process after recording, different from the recording apparatus.

Therefore, in addition to the same operational effects described above, for example, in laminating, the winding device can be used for a feeding device of the laminating apparatus. Further, in cutting, the winding device can be used for a feeding device of the cutting apparatus. As a result, it is not necessary to take out and dispose the roll medium. In particular, it is useful when the weight of the roll medium is large.

In the recording apparatus, the winding device may include wheels.

Therefore, in addition to the operation effects described above, it is possible to easily move the winding device, with the wound roll medium retained. In particular, it is useful when the weight of the roll medium is large.

In the recording apparatus, a heater unit that heats the roll medium may be provided and the predetermined position may be under the heater unit.

Therefore, with the winding device disposed at the predetermined position, since the heater unit is positioned above the winding device, it is difficult for the user to operate the winding device due to interference of the heater unit. In this case, it is particularly useful that the winding device can move with respect to the recording apparatus main body.

In the recording apparatus, the winding device may include an adjusting unit that adjusts the position and posture relative to the recording apparatus main body and the adjustment of the adjusting unit may be controlled on the basis of a result of detecting the information on the position and posture of the winding device.

Therefore, for example, even if the roll medium tends to make a serpentine motion in the width direction when the winding device winds the roll medium, it is possible to cleanly wind the roll medium with both sides aligned, by finely adjusting the position and posture of the winding device by correcting the tendency.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers reference like elements.

FIG. 1 is a side view schematically showing the entire printer according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a winding apparatus according to the embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a view showing control of the printer according to the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a (first) post-process of the printer according to the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a (second) post-process of the printer according to the embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side cross-sectional view schematically showing the entire configuration of a large-sized ink jet printer 1 (hereafter, simply referred to as a printer) as a recording apparatus of an embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 1 includes a feeding unit 2, a recording unit 13, and a winding device 24. The feeding unit 2 in the components can release and send out a roll medium R wound in a roll in the transport direction A. In detail, the feeding unit 2 includes a first holder unit 8 and a pair of rollers 12.

In these components, the first holder unit can retain both ends of the roll medium R to be rotatable. The first holder unit 8 includes a first shaft 9 fitted in a core hole 31 of a roll core 30 of the roll medium R and a flange 10 that can come in contact with an end of the roll medium R. The first shaft 9 may freely rotate or may be driven by power of a motor, which is not shown. When the first shaft can freely rotate, this is because the roll medium R is taken and released by the pair of rollers 12 that is driven at a downstream side in the transport direction.

Further, a pair of the first holder units 8 is disposed opposite each other. Further, at least one of the first holder units 8 can adjust the attachment position by sliding in the width direction X in accordance with the difference in width of the roll medium R.

Further, a temporary base 7 that is a temporary seat and a lifting unit 3 are disposed under the first holder unit 8. The temporary base 7 is a base where the roll medium R is temporarily placed before being retained by the first holder unit 8. As an example, the temporary base is composed of two pieces of first guide shafts 6 extending in the width direction X. Further, the lifting unit 3 can easily lift up the heavy roll medium R placed on the temporary base 7 and easily make the side of the roll medium R retained in the first holder unit 8. Further, the Z-axial direction is the up-down direction.

In detail, the lifting unit 3 includes a base portion 32 that can slide in the width direction X with respect to the two pieces of first guide shafts 6, an operation lever 4, and an elevating portion 5. It is possible to move up the elevating portion 5 and lift up the roll medium R by turning the operation lever 4 in one direction. Meanwhile, it is possible to move down the elevating portion 5 and move down the roll medium R by turning the operation lever 4 in the opposite direction.

Further, the recording unit 13 includes a printer main body 11. The printer main body 11 is equipped with a carriage guide shaft 15 extending in the width direction X, a carriage 14, a recording head 16, and a medium support 17. The carriage 14 can move in the width direction X while being guided on the carriage guide shaft 15. Further, the recording head 16 is mounted on the carriage 14, opposite the medium support 17 and can performs recording by discharging ink onto the roll medium R. Further, the medium support 17 supports the roll medium R and can make the distance between the roll medium R and the recording head 16 a predetermined distance.

Further, the pair of rollers 12 is disposed inside the printer main body 11, but may be disposed outside. This is because the rollers have only to be able to send the roll medium R in the transport direction A.

Further, a preheater 18 is disposed further upstream than the printer main body 11 in the transport direction. This is for easily drying the ink landed on the roll medium R when performing recording, by heating the roll medium R in advance before performing recording on the roll medium R.

Further, an after-heater 19 is disposed further downstream than the printer main body 11 in the transport direction. This is to reliably dry the ink landed on the roll medium R from after the recording until before the winding of the winding device 24.

Further, the winding device 24 winds the roll medium R by the power of the motor (not shown) and can retain the wound roll medium R in the second holder unit 28 fitted on two pieces of second guide shafts 26.

Further, a tension bar 21 that applies tension to the roll medium R during winding is disposed. Therefore, it is possible to cleanly wind the roll medium R in a roll by removing flexibility.

Further, the winding device 24 can move with respect to the printer main body 11. In detail, the winding device is retained by a retaining unit 20 at a predetermined position B under the after-heater 19 during winding. The retaining unit 20 can retain the winding device by engagement of recessions and protrusions, for example. Further, an electromagnet may be used. It is possible to retain the winding device 24 at the predetermined position B by generating and using a magnetic force, by turning on the electromagnet. Meanwhile, it is possible to release the winding device by removing the magnetic force, by turning off the electromagnet.

It is possible to move the winding device from the predetermined position B by stopping the operation of the retaining unit 20 after the winding or when the winding is stopped. For example, a user can easily access the winding device 24 by taking out the winding device from under the after-heater 19. Further, it is possible to separate the roll medium R from the winding device 24. The place under the after-heater 19 is not preferable as a place where the user works, because the after-heater 19 may remain hot. In this case, it is possible to work safely by taking out the winding device from under the after-heater 19.

The winding device 24 is formed independently from the printer main body 11 in the embodiment. Further, wheels 25 are disposed under a body frame 27 of the winding device 24, for free movement. The winding device is disposed to freely move in the embodiment, but is not limited thereto. It is preferable that the winding device 24 can move with respect to the printer main body 11, as an aspect of the invention, in order to achieve the operational effect that the user can easily access the winding device 24. Therefore, the winding device 24 may be integrally formed to be able to slide with respect to the printer main body 11.

Further, the printer 1 includes an inverse T-shaped support frame 22, when seen from a side, which has a caster 23 for movement at the lower end, at left and right ends to be opposite to each other. Further, the printer main body 11 is disposed above the support frame 22.

Next, the winding device 24 of the embodiment is described in detail.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the winding device 24 according to the embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 2, the winding device 24, as described above, includes the second holder units 28, the second guide shafts 26, the base frame 27, and the wheels 25. In those components, the second holder unit 28 includes the second shaft 29 fitted in the core opening 31 of a roll core 30 of the roll medium R.

Further, at least one of the second holder units 28 can move with respect to the second guide shafts 26. This is because the second holder unit 28 corresponds to the difference in width of the roll medium R, similar to the first holder unit 8.

Further, the motor that drives the second shaft 29 as the power winding the roll medium R is no shown.

The control generated by allowing the winding device 24 to move is described.

FIG. 3 is a view showing the control of the printer 1 according to the embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 3, a control unit, which is not shown, ascertains whether there is an instruction for recording in the printer 1 in step S1. When it is determined that there is an instruction for recording, the process proceeds to step S2. On the other hand, when it is determined that there is no instruction for recording, the process returns to step S1.

The control unit determines whether the winding device 24 is at the predetermined position B in step S2. This is because it is difficult to wind the recorded roll medium R, when the winding device is not at the predetermined position B. For example, it is possible to make the determination by disposing sensor around the predetermined position. Further, when the retaining unit 20 described above retains the winding device 24, it can be determined that the winding device is at the predetermined position B.

For example, it may be possible to determine that the winding device is at the predetermined position, when the electromagnet described above is turned on. Further, when it is determined that the winding device is at the predetermined position B, the process proceeds to step S3 to perform recording. On the other hand, when it is determined that the winding device is not at the predetermined position B, it is determined as an error because the roll medium cannot be wound even if recording is performed. In this case, a notice that urges the user to set the winding device 24 at the predetermined position B is displayed on a display unit (not shown).

Recording is performed in step S3. In detail, recording is performed on the roll medium R sent out from the feeding unit 2 by discharging ink onto the roll medium R from the recording head 16 of the recording unit 13. Further, the recorded roll medium R is wound by the winding device 24. The process proceeds to step S4.

In step S4, when the roll medium R is wound by the winding device 24, the position and posture of the winding device 24 are finely adjusted with respect to the printer main body 11. When the roll medium R is wound, the roll medium R tends to make a serpentine motion in the width direction. In this case, it is possible to detect the serpentine direction, using a pair of optical sensors (not shown) disposed opposite both sides of the roll medium R.

It is possible to cleanly wind the roll medium R with both sides aligned, by finely adjusting the position and posture of the winding device 24 with respect to the printer main body 11 in accordance with the detection result. The unit for the fine adjustment may be implemented by a cam or an actuator that changes, for example, the relationship of the relative position and posture between the printer main body 11 and the winding device 24.

Further, it is possible to control the fine adjustment by controlling the cam or the actuator with the control unit. Next, the sequence is finished. After the roll medium R is wound, the retaining unit 20 is stopped and the winding device 24 is taken out and moved from under the after-heater 19 (the predetermined position B). In this state, the winding device may be moved to a place for standby. Further, when a process after recording is performed, the winding device is moved to the place where a device that performs the process after recording is disposed.

Next, usage after the winding device 24 of the printer 1 winds the roll medium R is described.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a first post-process of the printer 1 according to the embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 4, for example, it is assumed that laminating is performed after recording. In the printer 1, the retaining unit 20 is stopped after the winding device 24 winds the roll medium R and the winding device 24 is moved to the place where a laminating apparatus 40 is disposed, from the predetermined position B of the printer 1.

The laminating apparatus 40 described herein, for example, includes a medium feeding device 41, a first film feeding unit 42, a second film feeding unit 43, a pair of press rollers 44, and a winding unit 45. In those components, the medium feeding device 41 can feed the recorded roll medium R to the pair of press rollers 44. Further, the first film feeding unit 42 can feed a first film that is laminated on a surface of the roll medium R.

Similarly, the second film feeding unit 43 can feed a second film that is laminated on the surface of the opposite side to the surface of the roll medium R. Further, the pair of press rollers 44 can press the first film and the second film on the fed roll medium R. That is, it is laminating. Further, the winding unit 45 can wind the medium that has undergone laminating, using the power of the motor.

The winding device 24 of the printer 1 can also function as the medium feeding device 41 of the laminating apparatus 40. Next, the winding device 24 of the printer 1 is moved to a predetermined position C as the medium feeding device 41 of the laminating apparatus 40. Further, the medium is fed by rotating the motor in the opposite direction to the winding or the medium is rotatably fed by cutting the power transmitted from the motor.

As a result, it is possible to transport the roll medium R wound in the printer 1 to the laminating apparatus 40. In this process, it is not necessary to separate the roll medium R from the winding device 24. Further, it is also not necessary to replace the roll medium to the medium feeding device 41 of the laminating apparatus 40. Therefore, load on the user is remarkably reduced. In particular, it is useful when the weight of the roll medium R is large.

FIG. 5 is a view showing a second post-process of the printer 1 according to the embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 5, for example, it is assumed that cutting is performed after recording. In the printer 1, similar to the post-process described above, the retaining unit 20 is stopped after the winding device 24 winds the roll medium R, and the winding device 24 is moved to the place where cutting apparatus 50 is disposed, from the predetermined position B of the printer 1.

The cutting apparatus 50 described herein, for example, includes a medium feeding device 51, a pair of transporting rollers 52, a cutter 53, a cutter base 54, and a seating tray 55. In those components, the medium feeding device 51 can feed the recorded roll medium R to the pair of transporting rollers 52. Further, the pair of transporting rollers 52 can perform intermittent transport of repeating transporting and a predetermined amount of media to the downstream side in the transport direction and stopping them by the operation of a motor, which is not shown.

Further, the cutter 53 can cut the medium supported on the cutter base 54 by moving in the width direction X of the medium, when the transport of the pair of transporting rollers 52 is stopped. Further, the seating tray 55 can sequentially place the cut media.

The winding device 24 of the printer 1 can also function as the medium feeding device 51 of the cutting apparatus 50.

Next, the winding device 24 of the printer 1 is moved to a predetermined position D as the medium feeding device 51 of the cutting apparatus 50. Further, similar to the first post-process described above, the medium is fed by rotating the motor in the opposite direction to the winding or the medium is rotatably fed by cutting the power transmitted from the motor.

As a result, it is possible to transport the roll medium R wound in the printer 1 to the cutting apparatus 50. In this process, it is not necessary to separate the roll medium R from the winding device 24. Further, it is also not necessary to replace the roll medium to the medium feeding device 51 of the cutting apparatus 50. Therefore, load on the user is remarkably reduced. In particular, it is useful when the weight of the roll medium R is large.

The printer 1, a recording apparatus according to the embodiment, includes the feeding unit 2 that can feed roll-shaped roll medium R downstream in the transport direction, the printer main body 11 that is a recording apparatus main body having a recording unit 13 that performs recording on the fed roll medium R, and the winding device 24 that winds the recorded roll medium R in a roll at the predetermined position B, in which the winding device 24 can move with respect to the printer main body 11.

Further, in the embodiment, the winding device 24 is a device independent from the printer main body 11 and the printer 1 includes the retaining unit 20 that retains the winding device 24 at the predetermined position B with respect to the printer main body 11.

Further, in the embodiment, the winding device 24 is used for the laminating apparatus 40 and the cutting apparatus 50 that perform the processes after recording, different from the printer 1. In detail, the winding device 24 of the printer 1 functions as the medium feeding device 41 of the laminating apparatus 40 and the medium feeding device 51 of the cutting apparatus 50.

Further, in the embodiment, the winding device 24 includes the wheels 25.

Further, in the embodiment, the after-heater 19 that is a heater unit that heats the roll medium R is provided and the predetermined position B is under the after-heater 19.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above and may be modified in various ways within the aspects described in claims, and the modifications should be construed as being included in the invention. 

1. A recording apparatus comprising: a feeding unit that feeds roll-shaped roll medium downstream in the transport direction; a recording apparatus main body that has a recording unit that performs recording on the fed roll medium; and a winding device that winds the recorded roll medium in a roll at a predetermined position, wherein the winding device moves with respect to the recording apparatus main body.
 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the winding device is a device independent from the recording apparatus main body, and the recording apparatus includes a retaining unit that retains the winding device at a predetermined position with respect to the recording apparatus main body.
 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the winding device is used for an apparatus that performs a process after recording, different from the recording apparatus.
 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the winding device includes wheels.
 5. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a heater unit that heats the roll medium, wherein the predetermined position is under the heater unit.
 6. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the winding device includes an adjusting unit that adjusts the position and posture relative to the recording apparatus main body, and the adjustment of the adjusting unit is controlled on the basis of a result of detecting the information on the position and posture of the winding device. 